MATCH REPORT: AS Monaco 2-1 Tottenham

AS Monaco deservedly overcame Tottenham to qualify for the last 16. And to round off a perfect evening, the Red & Whites are guaranteed to finish top of Group E!

There was a lively start to the game from both sides. Lemar was soon in action down the left, combining with Mendy whose cross was cleared. The Red & Whites were edging the play, but Son got clean through behind the home defence in the 6th minute. The stadium held its breath as the South Korean found himself with only Subasic to beat, but the Croatian ‘keeper came out perfectly to smother the shot. After that scare, AS Monaco went back on the offensive. With 10 minutes gone, Fabinho was scythed down in the box and awarded a penalty. Falcao took responsibility for the spot kick but was denied by Lloris! Despite that missed opportunity, the Red & Whites stuck to their task.

Monegasque dominance

Mendy was running riot down the left and drilled a cross into the middle. Lloris pushed the ball out to Germain who was not expecting the chance and was unable to get enough on the ball to catch out the Spurs ‘keeper (13 mins). Mendy and Germain linked up well again from the next attack, with the former crossing for the latter, but Dier cleared the Monegasque n°18’s header (14 mins). With fifteen minutes played, the home side were clearly in the ascendancy. In the space of two minutes, Falcao and Sidibé both tried their luck withouth success (26 and 27 mins). Then on 34 minutes, a cross-shot from Germain shaved Lloris’ right-hand post! Five minutes after that, Germain got free down the right and looked for Falcao in front of goal, but the ball was cut out. After one last effort from Lemar that was held by Lloris, referee Mr. Kuipers blew for half-time.

Sidibé and Lemar do the business!

The match sprang into life dramatically in the second half. Silva dribbled his way through the English side’s defence just outside the box and laid the ball off to Mendy, whose arrowed cross was met by Sidibé with a well-placed header. Lloris could do nothing about it, and AS Monaco were a goal to the good. Their advantage did not last long, however, as Mr Kuipers awarded Alli a somewhat generous penalty which Kane powered home despite Subasic getting hands to the ball (52 mins). It seemed Spurs were back in it, but from the restart Sidiibé found Lemar on the left of the box, and the newly-capped French international thumped an unstoppable shot across Lloris and into the far corner to put AS Monaco back in front! The Louis-II was rocking with the Monegasques just over half an hour away from the win.

Controlled finish

The Red & Whites almost pulled further ahead when Glik met Lemar’s free-kick with a point-blank header. It looked for all the world a goal, but Lloris pulled off an incredible save (68 mins)! The former Nice man was having a fine game, and produced another top-class stop in the 74th minute to keep out a thunderbolt from Falcao! With ten minutes left on the clock, Lemar went off grimacing after yet another sprint down the left, to be replaced by Moutinho for the last few minutes. The latter stages were controlled by AS Monaco, who saw out the game without fuss. The result means the Red & Whites qualify for the last 16, whilst guaranteeing they will top the group with a game left to spare, ahead of the final trip to Leverkusen on 7 December! A simply exceptional performance, from a side who had to navigate the play-offs! Their next game is another mouthwatering meeting, as Olympique de Marseille visit the Stade Louis-II in Ligue 1 on Saturday! What a week!